Bridge



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON C. FRITS, OF LA IIARPE, ILLINOIS.

BRIDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,339, dated February10, 1891-.

Application filed September 8, 1890. Serial No. 364,346. (No model.)

hereby declare that the following isa full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bridges of that class for whichLetters Patent were granted to me March 4, 1884, No. 294,606.

The present invention is designed as an improvement upon the inventiondisclosed in said Letters Patent, the object being to simplify thecconstruction and arrangement, whereby a cheaper and stronger structureis provided and one which will possess advantages which will be apparentto those skilled in the art.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofone of the spans of a bridge constructed according to my invention. Fig.2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of thedevices for securing the horizontal and diagonal stay-rods and thevertical upright or beam. Fig.4 is a detail sectional View.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates two horizontalbeams which rest side by side with a small space between. At each endthese beams are formed with shoulders 2, which engage with similarshoulders on the diagonal struts 3, the lower ends of these strutsresting in shoes 4, secured to the cross-pieces 5 or to thebridge-abutments. The beams 1 form the truss-beams. The shoes 4 areconnected together by means of the horizontal rods 6, the outer ends ofwhich pass through said shoes when they are screw-threaded and providedwith retaining nuts 7. These rods terminate at or about the center ofthe span where they are connected with a link 8, resting upon thecross-beam 9 and embracing an upright 10. Thelower end of this uprightrests upon the cross-beam 9, and it extends upwardly to and supports thecross-beams 1. Passing through an aperture in the lower end of upright10 is a clip 12, bent outwardly to form loops 13. The arms 14 of thisclip rest in grooves 15 in the crossbeam 9, and depend downwardly withtheir ends screw-threaded to receive nuts 16. A plate 17 provided withapertures for the pas sage of arms 14 rests upon the bottom ofcross-beam 9, being retained in place by means of the nuts 16. Bythis-means the cross-beam and upright are securely connected together.Connected at one end with the loops 13 of the clip 12 are the diagonalbrace-rods 18, secured at their other ends to the diagonal struts bymeans of nuts 19.

The numeral 20 designates vertical rods passing through the truss-beamand also through cross-beams 21 similar to beam 9, which with saidlatter beam form the supports to which the floor or decking of thebridge is secured. These rods 20 are secured by means of nuts 22, and attheir upper ends are provided with a plate 23, through which they pass,said plate resting upon the ends of the truss-beam and the diagonalstruts. The diagonal stay or brace rods 18 also pass through aperturesin plates 23.

By the above construction a very strong and efiicient bridge isproduced, which possesses many advantages over similar structures now inuse.

port for the lower end of the upright 10, I provide said end with ametal shoe 24, which is secured thereto in any suitable manner. Thisshoe is rounded on its under side, and is provided with a transversegroove or notch 25, which engages with a pin 25, secured to thefloor-beam above the plate 26, which rests in a recess in the cross-beam9. By this means the upright is securely held in place and preventedfrom accidental displacement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a bridge, thecombination, with the notched truss-beams, the notched struts, the

For the purpose of affording a better sup.-

horizontal rods connected with the shoes and v with a link, an uprighthaving a rounded shoe secured to its lower end, a clip connected withsaid upright and With one of the floorsupports, diagonal brace-rodsconnected with the struts and with the clips, and a notched plateresting upon said floor-support with which the shoe on the uprightengages, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereunto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON O. FRITS. \Vi tn esses: ED. GILLETT, ZERAH KERN.

